Who’d have thought an antiquarian book shop in little old Henley-on-Thames would garner such interest and amass over 200,000 followers on Tiktok and approaching 5 million likes from all over the world.

Well that’s what has happened with Tom Ayling’s charming, informative, enthralling and totally addictive posts that started during lockdown. Do not venture in if you’re not prepared to lose the grasp of time and fall into this wonderful worm hole of historical literature.

What can only really constitute as a museum Jonkers Rare Books is bursting at the seems with rare books, manuscripts and illustrations. From copies of The Bible to Mog the Cat, books on Fairy Tales & Folklore through to Ghost Stories & Gothic Tales, Travel & Exploration, Modern First Editions, Literature Before 1900 and Non-Fiction, along with almost every conceivable well known author of present and past.

Rare books and collectors items ranging in price from £45 for a John Betjeman’s guide to £97.5k for Ian Fleming’s autograph notes for From Russia With Love; and even lovely local touches such as the Sales Particulars for Remenham Court.

As soon as you start watching one of Tom’s reels, you’re in, you’ve been captivated by his wonderfully British, soft and gentle voice, his indisputable wisdom and passion, and his love of what he does as he handles the books and cascades captivating information. Tom fills in the history behind every book, about the author and the circumstance and of course dipping into values.

You won’t be disappointed by checking out and following Tom Wayling’s Tik Tok and Jonkers’ Instagram feed. It’s truly wonderful and Henley is incredibly lucky to have this diamond of a book shop at it’s heart.

And if you haven’t done so already, make Jonkers Rare Books window a stop on a Sunday walk or wander around town. It always has a beautiful display of books and facts of interest – we particularly enjoyed the window of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. Fascinating stuff.

You can follow Tom’s videos as he posts them on TikTok. And see some of Jonkers’ extensive rare book collection here on their website. Or, if you’re in the area, you can pop into the shop on Hart Street in Henley.

Address: 27 Hart Street, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon RG9 2AR

Jonkers Rare Books was founded in 1994 by Christiaan Jonkers, at the time an undergraduate at Oxford, as an extension of his own collection of twentieth century literature.  The principles which Christiaan had employed when buying for his personal collection: that of buying only the best copies available and that a fine copy of a book was better value that a compromised copy at half the price, influenced the advice and books he offered to friends and customers.  These principles remain at the heart of Jonkers’ stock selection to this day.

Upon leaving Oxford, Christiaan set the company up as a going concern, issuing catalogues and exhibiting at occasional bookfairs.  

In 1998 Jonkers merged with Bromlea Books run by Sam Johnstone and her parents, operating briefly as Bromlea & Jonkers before reverting to Jonkers Rare Books when Sam Johnstone became Sam Jonkers. Bromlea Books had specialised in children’s and illustrated books, which perfectly complemented the Jonkers expertise in nineteenth and twentieth century literature.

It was also in 1998 that the shop in Henley on Thames was acquired, bringing the carefully selected stock of books to a wider audience.  

Since then Jonkers have been quietly (and sometimes not so quietly) rooting out rare and unique books, helping clients, including some of the foremost collectors and institutions in the world, to enhance their collection.  Although the size and scope of the business has increased significantly, the underlying principles of discerning selection, honest advice and meticulous research remain as true today as when the business started.

Jonkers Rare Books – First Edition Books, Signed & Antique – Jonkers Rare Books